Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
[These two verses in Matthew remind us what we are promised when we take action. What are YOU doing to support your Loudoun Valley Emmaus Community?]
There was no February Gathering because a snowstorm created too much risk for anyone attempting to make the drive. Notices were issued and the Board hopes that no one made the trip without receiving the notice.
Our next Gathering is at Duncan UMC in Berryville, Va and the Board will be considering dates and locations because we are currently unable to act decisively while waiting for more Pilgrim Applications to be submitted. Since January 1, 2018, we have received one application from a Pilgrim/Sponsor. In the January Newsletter, we read that the Bible instructs us to “wait upon the Lord.” I hope that each of us are asking, seeking and knocking for the opportunity to have Emmaus Weekends in which women and men can receive their unique and tailor-made expression of love from the risen Christ!
The Community needs to pray for sufficient Pilgrim applications from which the Board can take prudent steps in planning the next weekends. We know that prayer is a necessity for our Community for all matters and I am upping my prayer requests for our weekends and more pilgrim applications.
At our Board Meeting on January 20, 2018, the Board discussed the cascading consequences which we face. First, since we do not know when the renovations at the 4-H center will be complete, several Board Members have been exploring alternative sites with all deliberate speed. Second, teams will have to travel to the storage site and pick-up the gear for the weekend and the team also has to tear-down following the weekend and return gear to the storage area. I am pleased to report that we are advancing on site selection and have been assured by Board and Community Members that we will have many volunteers to transport gear at both ends of the weekend. I hope this explains why the dates listed on the Newsletter were “tentative.”
God provides! God is handling this problem while we endeavor to find His solution through prayer. I encourage everyone to come to the March Gathering at Duncan Memorial UMC, in Berryville, and to bring a guest, especially if it is someone you may be considering to sponsor.
DeColores,
Phil Hannum LV #5